Busy Curtis

Curtis has been very very busy as always. Earlier this year not long after Christmas Curtis started studying for his series 9 and series 10 examinations. For those who do not know what those are they  are examinations that will qualify an individual to act as a principal who supervises sales for a general securities firm. They are not easy tests and they pretty much consumed his life for months. Needless to say when he finally passed them he felt like a load of bricks had been lifted off of his back. Since passing those examinations he has left his job as a call volume analyst and is now in a position of a interim manager. The change has been slightly stressful for Curtis but he is settling nicely into his new position and seems to be doing well.

Curtis continues to participate in Search and Rescue. Call outs seem to be occuring less frequently this year. But when they do occur its usually a lost hiker, a stranded boat, or a medical issue. Right now it is hunting season so they are getting a lot of calls for stranded duck hunters or lost or injured elk hunters.

Curtis always has a million and one projects going. Recently he has plumbed air lines into his garage, and has redone both my landcruiser, and his Military Trailer. The landcruiser received new paint, a new ARB bumper with accompanying winch, and sliders. And it's not done. Soon it will get a new back bumper that Curtis will design and build himself, and receive a 4 inch lift. As for his Military trailer he rebuilt the tongue, took out the fuel tank underneath, rewired the break lights and turn signals, and gave it a fresh coat of bed liner to match the land cruiser.

I know this looks all shiny and nice but if you look closely the clear coat is peeling. Too bad too because I did like the color.

Notice the steps are gone and replaced with sliders... and of course the new cow killing bumper and winch in case we get stuck while off road. And yes he did the paint himself.

This is a military trailer. All the silver spots are where Curtis and I welded holes closed.

When the whole family is in the cruiser we have very little space left in back for stuff. The trailer will make it easier for camping trips.

I think its rather cute that Curtis likes to match his toys:)... although technically the Cruiser is mine. Whatever makes him happy:)

Besides his own projects Curtis has been busy helping out in scouts as the Scout Master for our area. The boys seem to love and respect him and it has been a good position for him. He has also participated in Live History Days at the Miracle of America Museum by playing the part of a Black Power Rifle instructor and demonstrator.

Live History Days. Curtis did very well answering all questions. He sure knows his guns.

Finally Curtis has been working hard as a father and husband. As always he tries to do what is best for out little family and has really been enjoying bonding with his last baby. We appreciate all that he does for us.

Ryker the Toddler

Little Ryker is no longer a baby. He is very much a toddler these days. He started walking before he turned 11 months old and now he is running his mom ragged as he gets into everything under the moon.

Never ever leave Ryker alone in a bathroom. He will open every drawer he can reach and empty it. Then he will proceed to unroll 100 feet of toilet paper, wet it with toilet water, and than paper mache the floor and walls. Then he will take the one toy he brought with him and put that in the toilet to see if it floats. Thank goodness he has not figured out how to flush or I am sure we would have had to unclog the toilets a handful of times.

Ryker is turning out to be a little smaller than his brothers. Both Ashton and Jace have always been a little above average in height. Ryker is a little below average. But the strange thing is he eats more than Jace and Ashton combined at the age of one. I really don't know what to think of it. The boy just loves to eat yet he has not one roll on him. Looks like he got his Dad's metabolism.

Our little toddler talks ALL the time. He is never quiet. Can you understand him? Nope not really. But he knows what he is saying and seems pretty adamant about his demands and opinions. So much that if you argue with him he will scream back at you.

Ryker is a huge cuddler. The little boy always wants to snuggle up and loves to have his back rubbed. This is most likely the sweetest things about him... his ability to covey love through touch. He is definitely a Wilde in that respect.

This boy has no fear of anything. Take him on a motorcycle or a rollercoaster... makes no difference he will not cry. He loves to be thrown, flipped, and twirled. He is definitely an adrenaline junky.

Ryker is still very much blond and his eyes are still VERY blue. His looks remind me of my father. Like I said before he has a lot of Wilde in him.

Little Ryker has been a joy to raise as a baby. And our family is looking forward to him as a toddler. We love Ryker.

My Big Girl Sage

Sage is growing up... or is she? Although Sage is 9 years old, upon meeting her for the first time people think she is 7 because she is so petite. That's right folks, Sage has inherited my "short, and petite" gene. She is the smallest student in her class and proud of it. She may appear younger, but once she opens her mouth people are blow away by her intelligence and her ability to carry an adult conversation.

Sage, like her name implies, is wise beyond her age. Not only does she have a memory like an steel trap, but she also has the ability to take her life experiences and observations and apply them to help others and herself. She has the ability to see things as they truly are and very little gets past her. Where does she get all this knowledge? Well she reads several hours a day, and watches everything and everyone like a hawk soaking in everything like a large sponge that never gets full. As an Adult you have to be careful what you say around her because she will put 2 and 2 together when you  may not want her to.

Everyone LOVES Sage because she LOVES everyone. When Sage was 5 years old her Dad sat her on his knee and said, " If you want to be loved Sage, than you need to reach out to people and love them." She took that to heart, and today not a week goes by where someone does not come up to me and profess how much they love and adore Sage because of how sweet, kind, intelligent, and loving she is.

Sage decided to quit gymnastics. She simply got bored with the weekly classes. And I was ok with that since she really did not have a lot of natural talent. She had the strength but did not have the grace and precision that is required in such a sport. Instead she has decided to take up the Piano and in the Summer wants to try her hand at baseball. During the last baseball season she discovered that she had some natural talent for the sport and would like to further develop this potential talent. Go Sage!

My little girl spends her extra time reading, playing outside and hanging out with friends. In the home she helps me out a lot. When she senses that I am stressed, Sage is quick to try and relieve the stress by doing what she can to take the load off my shoulders. I do not know what I would do without my daughter to help me out.

Sage still holds the title for messiest family member. No matter how many times she is told to clean her room in a week it never lasts for more than a few hours. All three of her brothers combined are cleaner than she is. And that includes Ryker who is in the stage of picking things up and dropping them elsewhere in the house. I really am doubtful if Sage will ever be a very organized person. But as her mom I am not going to give up! One day... one day.

Sage is still a very silly individual. When she starts to giggle, it is very difficult if not impossible to get her to stop. She loves to be goofy and have fun like Ashton and loves to make others laugh.

Sage holds on to her independence. She like Jace, has always been independent and stubborn (not as bad as Jace.) As she gets older. these traits have matured and developed into more positive characteristics. Her independance gives her very little fear of the unknown allowing her to try new things without delay, and her stubornness helps her hold onto her values and stand up for what she knows is right. Very little phases Sage and very little gets her down. She is still very upbeat and positive.

Her greatest challenge right now is dealing with three younger brothers. She can get very frustrated with them especially Ashton who loves to push her buttons. But we are working on her being more patient and understanding and always taking the higher road when faced with a situation where she is tempted to do something mean or where she wants to take her revenge on a more immature siblings.

Sage is my rainbow on a cloudy day. I look at her and see me. I look at her and see great potential. I look at her and see love. I will forever be grateful to have had the chance to be her  mom.